Art Basel and Design Miami create a major tourist attraction in Miami Beach, Florida each year. Once again I went to the shows to see what is new in the very expensive world of modern art and design (which is the new way to talk about tables, chairs and other items that are not considered fine art). It was a learning experience. Much of the artwork was made using the newest techniques: 3-D printing, apps, framed pictures on the wall that were moving videos, and 3-D printed aluminum.

Seventy-three thousand people came to the shows creating traffic jams on the roads and in the aisles. And they bought millions of dollars worth of art, jewelry, sculpture, furniture, pottery, broken clay figures, French Art Deco pieces, and even statues dressed in 1930s potholders. The shows are a small part of the excitement. There are numerous galleries in areas such as Wynwood and the Design District with art by less famous artists, a public park filled with giant sculptures, dozens of private parties some on yachts, and of course—the glamorous hotels, restaurants and beaches of Miami.